EXPERIENCE THE ROCKY MOUNTAINEER

| 18 Jul, 2017

The famous Rocky Mountaineer train offers four spectacular rail journeys in the Canadian Rockies, taking you on a passage through astonishing natural landscapes, past incredible wonders of wildlife and all in the luxury of first-class surrounds.

Regularly voted in the world’s top five train experiences, this iconic train transports passengers along the edge of steep canyons, over vast gorges, through gold rush country and coastal rainforest, and passing tumbling waterfalls and snow-capped peaks.

Helen Tabois, Western & Oriental’s Senior Product Manager for Caribbean and Cruise, took a holiday on the Rocky Mountaineer earlier this year with her mother. “It’s definitely a “must do” when you’re travelling to that region of Canada and is every bit as good as its reputation, if not better,” she says.

“In some respects there are similarities to cruising because you’re passing through and in view of wonderful scenery, being wined and dined in style at the same time.”

As you’ll see from our online portfolio in Canada, we can arrange a Rocky Mountaineer experience with ease, combining this once in a lifetime journey with a wider tour of the country…and beyond.

“My insider tip is that there is often better availability departing from Vancouver and travelling east, plus the scenery becomes more and more stunning and dramatic travelling into the Rockies than travelling from them towards Vancouver,” he says.

On board the Rocky Mountaineer you can choose between two levels of service: SilverLeaf or GoldLeaf. The entry-level SilverLeaf Service has glass-domed coaches and meals served at your seat. For a superior view and added luxury the GoldLeaf Service carriages are spread over two levels, with comfortable seating and enhanced viewing upstairs and exclusive dining rooms downstairs.

“After experiencing GoldLeaf Service myself, I always recommend to my clients that they upgrade for the unparalleled views from the upper deck seating and enhanced meal service,” says Leanne McGarrity, Canada Specialist at Western & Oriental.

And Helen Tabois agrees: “The service on board was excellent, very attentive yet friendly and relaxed, and the food was delicious; I’m not quite sure how they manage to produce restaurant quality meals when they’re so limited for kitchen space, but they do!

“My top tip is to pay that little bit extra to upgrade to the GoldLeaf standard. You have a separate dining room to go to for your meals and enjoy full restaurant service (rather than just being served in your seat) and receive several little extras. But the main reason for the upgrade is that you’re seated in the upper level of the double decker carriage, with clear domed roofs giving you full panoramic views of the incredible Rockies’ scenery. Everyone we spoke with in our GoldLeaf carriage agreed that they would have been disappointed if they’d got to the station platform and had passed up the opportunity to travel GoldLeaf!”

Out of your window you could be lucky enough to spot bear or elk, and your train will slow past key attractions for you to take photos and soak up their beauty; such as Mount Robson, Pyramid Falls, Seton Lake, Howe Sound, Castle Mountain and the awesome Sea-to-Sky Corridor.

And of course, aside from this unique journey itself, there’s also the inspiring excursions at the end of your Rocky Mountaineer experience to be enjoyed too, like close encounters with rescued wolfdogs or heli-flightseeing over the Spray Valley and Goat Range. Extended packages can see you venture further into the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and National Parks, with The Icefields Parkway a particular highlight, where you can take the Ice Explorer to the middle of the Athabasca Glacier. Or those with a head for heights can ride the gondola to the top of Banff’s Sulphur Mountain in a record-breaking eight minutes.

Your Western & Oriental Destination Expert can create a bespoke Canada itinerary for you, including an adventure on board the Rocky Mountaineer. Call them today to find out more or take a closer look at the inspiration on our website.